ODI World Cup 2023: Ranking teams based on squads

5. South Africa

South Africa has banked on a real mixture of first-timers and experienced players in their squad for the World Cup 2023. In the current squad, De Kock, Miller, Van der Dussen, Rabada, Ngidi, Markram, and Shamsi are the only ones to have played a World Cup match. Captain Temba Bavuma himself will be playing his first World Cup. 

However, they are familiar with the conditions with multiple players being part of the Indian Premier League. They have a good batting lineup but not all of them are in form. Their bowling will miss Anrich Nortje, but Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi with Gerald Coetzee will have to make up for him.

One glaring issue with the South African squad is a lack of proper all-rounder. Though they have Andile Phehlukwayo and Marco Jansen to do that job, none can match what Lance Klusener used to bring to the table. They are also going for pace over spin with only Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi being the pure spinners with Aiden Markram for company.